Buskers in Camden could be fined up to £1,000 if they do not follow new legislation brought in by the local council this week.

As of February, any person busking in the north London borough will require a £19 annual licence, following the Labour authority's decision. The new restrictions come after a reported 100 noise complaints in the past year by local residents, who took issue with the use of amplifiers and drums. As well as implementing a fine, officials could confiscate instruments. In addition, a new curfew will permit buskers to only perform between 10am and 9pm.

Comedians Mark Thomas and Bill Bailey and musician Billy Bragg took to the streets last month to join a protest organised by the Association of Street Artists and Performers. The trio, who were joined by singer-songwriter Jon Gomm, met with campaigners on Camden High Street and performed songs including California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas, along with versions of The Imperial Death March from Star Wars, and Jerusalem on the kazoo – an instrument protesters say Camden council wants to ban.

Bragg, who spent his early career busking around London, said the licensing plans would hurt a fundamental aspect of UK culture. "It's the central part of not only the British spirit but the human spirit to keep the streets open for people to go out and give things a go," he told The Busking Project. "That's what busking is about – it's like the people's X Factor. It would be terrible if Camden ended up becoming another dull and dead backwater place because of this."

Jessica Kranish, a Camden Town resident who has lived in the borough for three years, spoke at the Council meeting Monday night in favour of the policy. "Residents don't want to banish music from the borough: we just don't want buskers to force their choice of music on us at their choice of time. Residents should be entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their homes, but with loud busking right outside, it's impossible to concentrate on anything besides the disruption," she explained to the Guardian. "Living in a city, you get used to ambient noise from the street like cars and people passing by - but it's impossible to tune out the sound of a loud busker performing in the same place for ten or eleven hours."

"My hope is that this policy, if enforced properly, will allow residents to lead normal lives again, with the ability to sleep, work, read, and carry out other everyday activities in our own homes," she added. "I hope musicians will explore more responsible and considerate ways to perform in the borough, such as our many pubs, clubs, and music venues, where appreciative and willing audiences await them."

While the busking rules are a first for Camden, Liverpool city council has in the past attempted to implement similar legislation. In 2012, protesters successfully secured a high court injunction that forced the council to review its policy.

• This article was amended on 14 Nov to attribute a quotation from Billy Bragg and to include ASAP's involvement in the protest